MAD Leaders Podcast: workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing

Our podcast guest today, Charles Alberts, Global Head of Wellbeing and People Experience at law firm Clifford Chance, tells us why his answer to this question is reverse mentoring. In this episode he explains, alongside his mentor Giulia, why reverse mentoring has been such a powerful experience for both of them, which has built their empathy and understanding of one another 'hugely'. In fact, it even gets quite emotional at times!If you've ever been curious about reverse mentoring, then this episode could be the nudge you need. Charles now describes it as one of the "genuine joys" of his career and it's clear how much he learnt from the experience which has helped him in his job.Remember you can find out more, and join the Make a Difference Leaders Club here:https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/Time line of podcast conversation:00:00 Welcome and Leaders Club00:35 This Week’s Challenge01:19 Meet Charles and Giulia02:17 What Reverse Mentoring Is03:36 Nerves and First Impressions05:48 Giulia’s Lived Experience06:38 Building Psychological Safety08:53 Intentional Structure vs Coffee11:09 Key Learnings and Assumptions16:32 Calling Out Behavior17:50 Disability Inclusion and Language19:48 How to Make It Work22:27 Why Leaders Should Make Time26:22 Alien question28:06 Wrap Up and Subscribe

AI is the biggest workplace behaviour change since the industrial revolution, says this week’s guest, Helen Matthews, former CPO of creative hot houses Weber Shandwick and Ogilvy UK.She’s just completed a qualification in Generative AI in Business from the University of Cambridge and admits to being fascinated by the topic and voraciously consuming anything that mentions it.For her, the biggest challenge she has encountered - which she talks through in this podcast episode - is how to create the psychological safety around AI to make people feel comfortable using it in the office. She describes the difference between safety levels at home compared to the office as the ‘adoption gap’. It falls to the CPO, often, to bridge this gap and take the pressure from CEOs who are increasingly investing in AI tech and want to see a return.In this conversation she discusses, not only psychological safety but also guardrails and ethics giving strategic, but also practical, advice.For instance, she covers how to leverage early adopters, how to ensure people get time to learn and make mistakes and why co-creation is so important in this space. As well as this, she also talks about what concerns her most about AI, now and going forward, and what we can all do to shape a better AI future.AI, and its impact on employee health and wellbeing and workplace culture is one of the hottest topics currently being debated and it's essential all businesses think about it now - that's why we're running a free webinar on Tuesday 17th March 9am - 10am, 2026. For more info and to register, see here:https://makeadifference.media/featured/ai-workforce-health-culture-risk-webinar/Time stamp of conversation:00:00 Welcome to the Leaders Podcast + How to Join the Leaders Club00:44 Bonus: Free AI Workplace Webinar (March 2026)01:29 The AI Adoption Gap: Leaders Under Pressure, Employees Anxious03:15 Building Psychological Safety: Training, Guardrails & Safe Sandboxes05:58 Why People Play with AI at Home but Avoid It at Work07:33 Wellbeing Risks: AI Coaches, Therapy, Hallucinations & Human Checks10:10 Creativity & Connection: Early Adopters, Communities, and Real Collaboration12:56 Where to Start: Practical Steps, Governance, GDPR & Upskilling Options15:29 AI and Creativity: Craft, Ethics, and Using AI Without Replacing Humans17:11 The Next 5 Years: Agents at Work, Shaping the Future, Ethics First20:27 The Alien Question + Sustainability: Invest in People, Don’t Humanize AI22:52 Wrap-Up: Thanks for Listening, Share the Episode & Subscribe

There’s a lot of truth in the old adage ‘people don’t leave companies, they leave bad managers’. Bad managers are terrible drains for business because they adversely affect employee engagement, productivity and wellbeing. Not only that, they can collectively impact the organisation’s entire workplace culture, regardless of what the C-suite says the company’s values are.So, how do you ensure you get good managers in place? And - perhaps a less common question in traditional career structures - how do you ensure those people who don’t want to progress via people management continue to have fulfilling alternative career paths? And what is the link between career fulfilment and wellbeing?Today’s guest Claire Burns, People Director at textile firm Abraham Moon and Sons, has got answers to these questions as well as highly practical solutions. For instance, she talks us through her innovative ‘try before you buy’ approach, as well as her strength-focused strategy to returning parents. We also talk about the undeniable, but sometimes overlooked, link between career fulfilment and employee health and wellbeing.Why not, like Claire, join Make A Difference Media's Leaders' Club - find out more hereTimeline of conversation:00:00 Introduction 00:44 The Challenge of People Management01:36 Practical Solutions for People Management02:48 Implementing the Try Before You Buy Approach05:51 Career Progression for Skilled Employees12:59 Honest Conversations and Employee Wellbeing14:40 Flexible Working and Career Paths16:33 The Link Between Career and Wellbeing20:10 Final Thoughts and Alien Question21:51 Conclusion and Goodbyes

Of all the different specialisms, within the wider arena of workplace culture and employee health and wellbeing, DEI has arguably found itself in the eye of a cultural and/or media storm most. And that means the people leading on DEI, or with a remit that touches on inclusion, have often found themselves - very suddenly - the one in the organisation that everyone is looking at to ‘fix’ a cultural problem. Obviously, this is a lot of pressure and can be extremely stressful. In this podcast Annisha Taylor, who is group head of equality, diversity and inclusion at Ofcom, talks candidly about this pressure she experienced in former roles and - crucially - how she responded to it.While undoubtedly stressful at the time, she reflects on these moments in this podcast and actually concludes that they have been pivotal in her career progression because she learnt so much from them. She generously shares exactly what in this chat.00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Navigating DEI Crises01:37 Guest Introduction: Anisha Taylor01:58 Facing the DEI Challenge: Anisha's Experience04:58 Lessons Learned and Advice for DEI Professionals09:00 Implementing Lasting Changes in DEI11:25 The Need for Proper Resourcing in DEI12:35 The Challenge of Communication in Organizations12:50 The Role of EDI Leaders13:16 Understanding Different Perspectives13:38 Navigating Senior Management15:31 Building Relationships with Senior Leaders16:55 Embedding EDI into Organisational Fabric18:58 The Alien Question: Pitching for Wellbeing21:25 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

When your work involves employee health and wellbeing, and you're trying to change culture, you often meet resistance. Sarah Churchman has a wealth of experience facing down taboos, stigma, stereotypes and internal resistance - she worked in HR roles at PwC for 20 years, latterly as Chief Inclusion, Culture & Wellbeing Officer.In this podcast, she talks us through how she does it - taking the menopause as an example. While this word, and its associated symptoms, are now talked about openly this is only due to trailblazing work from culture changers like Churchman. She talks about the traits needed to face resistance, and share some of her top practical tips. Also her advice on moving employee health and wellbeing to become a culture issue, taken seriously by senior management, as happened in her time at PwC.Podcast timeline:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Overcoming Resistance01:30 Meet Sarah Churchman: A Trailblazer in Workplace Wellbeing02:19 Facing Resistance: The Menopause Case Study04:03 Connecting and Supporting Employees06:38 Engaging Male Leaders and Overcoming Taboos14:07 The Role of Intuition and Data16:13 Future Challenges and the Importance of Human Leadership18:23 Conclusion, Final Thoughts and, of course, the Alien Question!

It makes sense that engaged employees are happier and more productive at work but - in this episode - you’ll hear concrete evidence that you can use in your business case that proves this link. Jo Moffatt, who is Advisory Board member for not-for-profit Engage For Success shares the findings of recent research which highlights the impact of Health and Wellbeing initiatives, and the benefits of listening to and valuing employees.Not only that, she gives you hard data (freely accessible) on the link between engagement and not only productivity but talent attraction, talent retention, reduced turnover, profitability and shareholder returns. But the big question is - how do you engage your employees to reap these benefits? Well, don’t worry, Jo shares her 4 most important actions to achieve this. She also lots of practical tips along the way, many of which don’t cost anything except effort and consistency.Timeline of podcast:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Engaging a Disengaged Team01:06 Guest Introduction: Joe Moffitt from Engage for Success01:39 Defining Employee Engagement02:43 Engage for Success: UK Employee Engagement Survey05:02 Key Findings from the Survey11:23 The Four Enablers of Engagement19:00 Survey Fatigue vs. Inaction Fatigue20:35 Engaging Senior Management25:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

It used to be enough to ask a couple of questions about how employees were feeling about their wellbeing in an annual, or twice yearly, survey and that was enough to assess 'engagement'. But those days are over. With hybrid working, geopolitical uncertainty, increasing desire for purpose and a host of other factors, employee expectations have shifted. To talk us through tackling this change, is Euromonitor's Global Director: Culture, Engagement and Inclusion, Adeife Onwuzulike, who is currently grappling with exactly this challenge. She covers a huge variety of topics with practical and strategic advice such as: the importance of co-design and collaboration; the multigenerational workforce; measurement; intersectionality and much more!One thing she makes crystal clear is that engagement today is all about participation two ways and employees want to be talked 'with' and not 'to'. She explains how she is doing this. She even sings at the end, so stay tuned for that, and, of course, the alien question....Remember you can join our Leaders Club by emailling editor@makeadifference.media Time line of conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Employee Engagement01:44 Guest Introduction: Aade Zalucki02:34 Designing a New Employee Experience Survey03:51 Measuring Employee Experience08:35 The Importance of Wellbeing and DEI11:52 Building Trust and Collaboration13:45 Generational Differences in the Workplace18:48 Effective Communication Strategies23:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

With neurodiversity talked about so much more today in the media than ever before, many employees are diagnosing, not only themselves, but their family members too. This, coupled with the long NHS waiting lists for formal diagnoses, means employees are increasingly looking to employers to bridge the gap. But what should they do? And is it reasonable to cover employees' family members too?This is what happened at BNP Parisbas and, in this episode, Health & Wellbeing Lead Lauren Lunniss explains what a 'wake up' call it was to discover so much demand - and how she systematically dealt with it. Lunniss is a self confessed lover of numbers and spreadsheets and, in this episode, shares some golden nuggets on this front on the link between uptake of services and productivity. Remember you can join our Leaders Club by emailling editor@makeadifference.media Time line of conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Addressing Neurodiversity01:19 Expert Insight: Lauren Lni's Experience01:28 The Growing Awareness of Neurodiversity01:48 Developing an Inclusive Program04:11 Survey Insights and Initial Steps07:18 Collaborating with Healthcare Providers08:55 Creating a Comprehensive Support Pathway09:47 The Importance of Follow-Up Care13:58 Measuring Impact and Success18:36 Building a Supportive Community23:43 Final Thoughts and Future Plans25:29 The Alien Question: Making the Case for Wellbeing27:34 Conclusion and Call to Action

Today is a very special episode because, for the first time, we have two brilliant guests answering this question not just one - both of them specialise in the legal industry, which is a hot bed for this scenario where managers are under pressure to perform and so, at times, deprioritise people and, even, can lack humanity as well as endangering their own wellbeing.One is Sam Jardine, Partner at Fieldfisher LLP and LawCare Chamption, and the other is Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, which promotes and supports good mental health in the legal industry across the UK and has just launched its latest report, Life in Law 2025.This is a fascinating wide ranging conversation, with loads of practical ideas and tips, as well as a bit of philosophy, AI predictions and even poetry. Check out the conversation breakdown below to see just how much ground is covered!00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Prioritizing People in High-Pressure Environments01:29 Expert Insights: Sam Jardine and Elizabeth Rimmer02:10 The Legal Industry's Pressure Cooker Environment05:31 The Impact of Empathy and Humanity in Management07:43 Positive Management Stories and Their Impact08:34 Valuing People Management in the Legal Sector09.35 Results of the recent LawCare study 12.04 How could line managers be encouraged to focus on better people management17.25 The challenge hybrid working brings20:35 The Role of Self-Awareness in Effective Management26:27 The Importance of Human Skills in the Age of AI29.00 Measuring Kindness30.00 The Alien Question, and wrap up

Have you ever found yourself drawn into that trendy narrative that young people today are SO flaky, needy, impatient, demanding, challenging, obsessed with their mental health and not dedicated enough to their work? Or maybe the line managers you work with have said this to you?Well, this is definitely the episode for you as our guest Alex Smith, Global Lead for Lifestyle, Leisure, and Wellbeing at Unidays, shares his unique and at-the-coalface insight into the mindset of young people today. You will have 'aha' moments and relate to younger generations differently in future.Alex delves into the importance of self-awareness and understanding the different life experiences that shape team members' perspectives. He highlights practical strategies for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.The discussion touches on the evolving nature of the job market influenced by AI and the importance of creating opportunities for diverse talents. The episode closes with the usual ‘alien question'!To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/Timeline of conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Managing a Multi-Generational Team01:35 Guest Introduction: Alex Smith01:48 Alex's Experience with Multi-Generational Teams02:34 Understanding Generational Differences03:43 Strategies for Effective Management08:06 The Role of Empathy and Self-Awareness09:32 The Impact of AI on Graduate Jobs15:11 Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace18:51 Final Thoughts and Takeaways21:25 The Alien Question22:22 Conclusion and Farewell 

Getting the best out of tech suppliers when you are juggling both legacy suppliers you've been with for ages, and the newer, agile tech start ups entering wellbeing, is no easy task.Karen Sancto, Microsoft's EMEA Benefits Consultant brings the benefit of her expertise here to this podcast, exploring this intricate process. She gives us practical, instantly useable advice and, in an increasingly automated world, underlines the importance of human relationships. Listen to the end to ensure you hear all of her strategies, and her answer to the 'alien question'!To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/Time line of conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Legacy vs. Agile Tech Companies01:24 Expert Insights: Karen Santo from Microsoft01:43 Navigating Supplier Relationships02:41 The Role of Technology and Data Privacy03:54 Building Effective Partnerships06:48 Cultural Considerations in Supplier Management13:16 Measuring and Scaling Supplier Management17:20 The Human Element in Supplier Relationships17:59 Fun and Creativity in Benefits Management19:15 Final Thoughts and Alien Scenario21:22 Conclusion and Call to Action

Matt Wilson, the UK Wellbeing Lead for Computacenter, talks candidly about the crisis of confidence he overcame working in the wellbeing industry. Not only because he felt, at times, insecure because he didn’t come from a traditional HR background, but also because he suffered a severe stammer. He talks with refreshing honesty about his experiences and gives practical advice to anyone else experiencing any kind of confidence issues that are affecting work. While his tips are applicable to everyone, his insight is particularly relevant to men who find it hard to talk about emotions or their struggles. He tells his story of how, after taking action, he ends up with more self-awareness and confidence, as well as a commitment to being authentic at work.The conversation also touches on the significance of demonstrating the ROI of wellbeing initiatives (and how this can boost your confidence), the importance of good communication strategies and the need for formal training in the field. 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:35 This Week's Challenge: Navigating Wellbeing Without an HR Background01:54 Guest Introduction: Matt Wilson, UK Wellbeing Lead02:03 Matt's Journey: Overcoming a Stammer and Building Confidence04:02 The Importance of Authenticity in Wellbeing Roles04:53 Men and Therapy: Breaking the Stigma09:41 Proving the ROI of Wellbeing Initiatives12:05 The Role of Commercial Skills in Wellbeing14:25 The Need for Formal Training in Wellbeing16:42 Final Advice for Wellbeing Professionals18:09 The Alien Question: Making the Case for Wellbeing Investment20:03 Conclusion and Call to Action

Balancing high performance with health and sustainability is a huge topic in workplaces currently, especially when the economy is under such pressure. Dr Monika Misra, who is Group Head of Employee Health and Wellbeing at Mars knows this conundrum very well - so well, she’s even (co) written a book on it! It’s called ‘Healthy High Performance: unlocking business success through employee wellbeing’, with Sir Cary Cooper. In this podcast, packed with practical and strategic tips, she talks us through step by step how she got a 30% uplift in employees’ energy levels and unlocked high performance under pressure.And if you are listening when this podcast comes out - then you have two days to get yourself to hear her talk at the MAD World Leaders Summit in London on 9th October where she is doing a keynote on Healthy High Performance in an age of uncertainty. Go to madworldsummit.com for more info.To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/To see the agenda for MAD World Summit on 9th October in London where Monika is speaking, see here: https://madworldsummit.com/Timeline of conversation:00:44 Meet Dr. Monica Misra: Expert in Health and Wellbeing01:28 Understanding Employee Burnout03:45 Building the Business Case for Wellbeing06:36 Implementing Evidence-Based Solutions14:13 Measuring Impact and Sustaining Change17:43 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways21:07 The Alien Question and Closing Remarks

It's great when employees are passionate and enthusiastic about spreading the Health and Wellbeing message. But - what do you do if they're not quite the right people you want driving the agenda? What if you need more influential people, especially those not working in Wellbeing or those who are personally invested to drive it?Today's brilliant guest Dr Sabrina Robinson, Chartered Psychologist and Wellbeing Lead at Essex County Council talks us through this exact problem today and reveals some cunning tricks of the psychological trade to help us on our way. And, of course, she answers the alien question in a truly novel way!To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/To see the agenda for MAD World Summit on 9th October in London where Sabrina is speaking, see here: https://madworldsummit.com/Time line of conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:45 Meet Dr. Sabrina Robinson02:08 The Challenge: Ensuring Consistency in Wellbeing03:08 Renewing the Governance Strategy04:20 Leadership Buy-In and Accountability05:49 Engaging the Right People14:30 Formalising the Governance Strategy17:32 Achieving Consistency and Employee Experience19:07 Final Thoughts and Advice21:33 The Alien Question22:48 Conclusion and Farewell

We know the theory: difference leads to innovation and, ultimately, profitability. But, in practice, working in multigenerational teams can be really challenging and lead to a lot of tension. Patrick Dunne OBE has seen this situation numerous times in his vast experience of business and boards - he's also just co-written a book called 'Five generations at work; how we win together for good'.This conversation covers everything from a maximising mindset, empathic leadership, dealing with conflict, 'microwaved' relationships and even dad dancing. It's peppered with practical tips and real-life solutions he's seen work.To join our Leaders club see hereFor more information on Patrick's keynote at MAD World Leaders Summit on 9th October 2025, see here Time line of conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:44 Meet Patrick Dunne, OBE02:25 The Multi-Generational Team Challenge03:42 Understanding and Communication Across Generations05:46 Practical Tips for Managing Multi-Generational Teams11:54 Conflict Management Techniques20:18 The Importance of Trust in Teams23:03 The Alien Question and Conclusion

We've chosen Dr Lia Ali, neuropsychiatrist and digital health innovation strategist for the NHS, as a launch interviewee because of her immense knowledge of being able to pinpoint what actually works - and what WILL work - based on the evidence. She's faced this question numerous times, and talks us through how she tackled it - and her favourite model - the biopsychosocial one. You'll leave this podcast inspired, and so if you want to hear more of Lia - she's doing a key note at the MAD World Summit on 9th October in London.To find out more about the Make A Difference Leaders Club, ⁠click here⁠.If you like this episode, please like and subscribe and - even better - share it with someone to keep the workplace wellbeing conversation going!And, if you have a burning issue you'd like discussed, or any feedback at all, email editor@makeadifference.mediaA quick summary of the conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:44 Meet Dr. Leah Ali: Digital Health Innovation Strategist01:41 The Bio-Psychosocial Model for Better Health Outcomes04:39 Case Study: Occupational Health in Australia06:42 The Importance of Preventative Interventions09:41 Embedding Health Strategies Across Organizations12:21 Inclusive Design and Health Inequalities15:24 Concluding Thoughts and Future Conversations19:36 Outro and Call to Action

Stella Gavinho is Group Head of Wellbeing at Entain and we chose her as one of the launch interviewees for her honesty and warmth, as well as the energy and resilience she applies to problem solving.She talks us through dealing with a significant drop in employee engagement in employee health and wellbeing, with lots of practical and strategic insight.If you like this episode, please like and subscribe and - even better - share it with someone to keep the workplace wellbeing conversation going!And, if you have a burning issue you'd like discussed, or any feedback at all, email editor@makeadifference.mediaTo find out more about the MAD World Leaders Summit agenda on 9th October, in London, and to register, ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠.To find out more about the Make A Difference Leaders Club, ⁠click here⁠.Key timings in the conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast00:44 Meet Stella Gino: A Warm and Honest Wellbeing Leader01:38 Setting the Scene: The Wellbeing Challenge03:03 Facing the Wellbeing Crisis: Stella's Experience04:42 Strategic Response: Data-Driven Solutions08:57 Implementing Manager Training Programs13:15 Results and Reflections: Positive Outcomes19:12 Advice for Leaders: Embracing Wellbeing Initiatives23:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our launch guest today - Claire Farrow - founded the Make A Difference Media Leaders Club. In her role as Global Content Director at MAD, she gets to hear leaders from all different sectors and industries open up to her about their biggest challenges. So, she has huge industry-spanning knowledge of what's going on and where the future of work is headed.Today she shares the struggles she hears most from leaders and what she thinks the industry can do to make the most impact going forward. If you like this episode, please like and subscribe and - even better - share it with someone to keep the workplace wellbeing conversation going!And, if you have a burning issue you'd like discussed, or any feedback at all, email editor@makeadifference.mediaRelevant links:Claire is currently organising the MAD World Leaders Summmit on 9th October in London. To find out more about the agenda and to register, ⁠click here⁠.To find out more about the Make A Difference Leaders Club, click here.Episode timings:00:00 Welcome to the Leaders Podcast00:44 Introducing Claire Farrow02:52 The Evolution of Workplace Wellbeing05:31 Top Challenges in Workplace Wellbeing12:05 The Importance of C-Suite Buy-In14:47 Professionalization and Data-Driven Approaches18:45 The Alien Question and Final Thoughts!

Workplace culture and employee health & wellbeing have never been more important — but leadership in the world of workplace wellbeing can feel lonely, messy and uncertain.On the Leaders Podcast, you’ll hear candid conversations with workplace pioneers, who are shaping the future of work. Here they'll pick apart the real problems they’ve faced, and the lessons they’ve learned - warts and all!This show is for you if you care about workplace health and wellbeing, whether you're in HR, Learning & Development, Health & Safety, DEI, Employee Engagement, Employee Experience, the C-suite or any role whose remit touches on culture and/or health and wellbeing.Subscribe now to hear the stories, insights and inspiration that can help you create healthier, more human workplaces and elevate this topic to its rightful place on the C-suite agenda.